My title for today’s devotion is One vs Many.
It is a constant-and I mean constant-struggle to choose and to act and to serve one Master. C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T. It seems like every time I turn around there is another god wanting my attention, wanting my worship. Jesus knew of this struggle and warned against it: “No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Mt.6:24)
That verse and thought came back to me this morning as I read Zephaniah. You don’t get very far into chapter 1 before God lowers the boom on those who have chosen someone other than Him. “I will stretch out my hand…I will cut off from this place…those who bow down on the roofs to the host of heavens, those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom, those who have turned back from following the Lord, who do not seek the Lord or inquire of Him.” (1:4-6)
Do you see the duplicity? “They bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom.” It certainly shows a willful disobedience on their part. Swear to the Lord yet swear by Milcom. That would be like a soldier or subject swearing fealty to his king or leader but then turning around and doing the same to a foreign ruler.
One or the other. One God or many gods. Allegiance to the One or allegiance to another. The answer? “Seek the Lord…Seek righteousness; seek humility.” (2:3) Seek to serve one one Master and be one “who will be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.” (2:3b)
“Father, the struggle is real. The choice is made difficult by my humanness. I must choose to serve only One and that would be You. Help me to seek You; to seek righteousness; and to seek humility.”
Thankful that my CONSTANT STRUGGLE is covered by God’s UNENDING GRACE
AMEN to that my friend! I’ll stand with you on that!!
Indeed a constant…I thank God for His Merciful Grace. Unfortunately, I’ve watched what happened to my husband by “They bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom.” It is a horrible ending to his life. I don’t wish that on anyone. I cling to The LORD…
I don’t know what happened to your ex-husband Diane but the end does not sound like a good one. I’m glad you are clinging to the Lord.
A constant struggle, I agree, Bill. Each and every day I remind myself to submit to and trust in the Lord. His grace will see me through!
Blessings!
And that is the trick Martha: every day reminding yourself to submit.
Yep. Actions speak louder than words too. We say one thing and yet do another with our actions. In the end it’s the same; failing the majority of the Ten Commandments.